MANILA, Philippines - The hometown of WBO junior flyweight titleholder Donnie Nietes honored the long-time champion with a statue outside Municipal Hall in Murcia, Negros Occidental during a ceremony on Thursday, July 21.
The event was headed by Mayor Andrew Montelibano, with Nietes' father Josue Nietes plus Sangguniang Bayan members Norberto delos Reyes, Jagie Gravino, Belen Magbanua and Bebot Gomez, plus ABC president Anton Gonzaga and sports coordinator Elro Villarosa.
Nietes (38-1-4, 22 knockouts) has been in possession of a world title since 2007, having won the World Boxing Organization (WBO) strawweight title for 4 defenses before moving up to win the organization's junior flyweight title.
The 34-year-old boxer last year had the Donnie Nietes-ALA Boxing gym dedicated after him in Murcia last year, and in May turned in one of his most exciting performances of his career, knocking out Raul Garcia in a homecoming fight in Bacolod City. – Rappler.com